Welcome to the WWII Forums! Log in or Sign up to interact with the community.

Omaha Beach LCT (5) Landing Craft Assault

Discussion in 'Information Requests' started by Michael Akkerman, Mar 10, 2020.

  1. Michael Akkerman

    Michael Akkerman New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2020
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    1
    I am an artist working on a WWII drawing of a man’s father who was a US Navy sailor aboard LCT(5) 207 on D-Day. This sailor was firing a Browning 50 Caliber machine gun from the LCT when he was wounded in the arm.

    Regarding the LCT(5), I have not been able to find any good information or photographs of the ship’s armament. I’m pretty sure these 50 caliber machine guns would have been mounted on the rear of the ship next to the wheelhouse, but from what I have researched this was where 20mm Oerlikon guns were. I also need to know exactly what kind of mount they would have been on.

    Any information you can fill me in on with the LCT(5), and more specifically LCT 207, to depict it as accurately as possible would be greatly appreciated. I have attached some images of the LCT(5) I need info on. Thanks!

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Buten42 likes this.
  2. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2009
    Messages:
    14,288
    Likes Received:
    2,605
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Most of the photos I can find of LCT 207 do not have the kind of detail you want. You van try the photos at navsource.org to see if there is anything there that helps.
     
  3. Michael Akkerman

    Michael Akkerman New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2020
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    1
    Thank you. Yeah, I have emailed that site so we'll see what they say. Doesn't necessarily need to be about LCT 207, just details on the LCT(5) model in general.
     
  4. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2009
    Messages:
    14,288
    Likes Received:
    2,605
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    I found this. It looks as though the LCT had either AA guns or 50 cal machine guns. I suspect they were in the same location, interchangeably.

    Specifications
    Hull Dimensions Length 114 ft. 2 in.
    Hull Dimensions Beam
    32 ft. 8 in.
    Displacement
    286 tons (short tons)*
    Draught forward
    36 in.
    Loads carried (max tons)
    150 tons (short tons)*
    Crew
    13
    Engine make
    Gray Marine
    Shaft Horse power
    675
    Number & Type
    3 Diesel
    Props
    3
    Max speed
    7 knots (Designed speed 10 knots)
    Range in miles
    700 at 7 knots
    Armour in the wheelhouse
    2 1/2 in.
    Armour in the gun shields
    2 in. plastic ?
    Armament
    2 20 mm antiaircraft gun **
    Armament
    2 50 cal. machine guns **
    * Short ton = 2000 lbs U.S. Long ton = 2240 lbs Great Britain


    ** Armament varied depending on theater of operation
     
  5. Buten42

    Buten42 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2009
    Messages:
    1,288
    Likes Received:
    210
    Location:
    Washington State
    Michael, My brother was a Gunners Mate on LCT (5) 221. He never mentioned a .50 caliber but always talked about firing the 20mm. Said one time he was leading a German plane and wasn't paying attention and almost shot the mast. The aft two gun stations (on his boat) were 20mm.
    They may have put additional .50's on some vessels, probably in the two bow stations.. The link is for the official LCT website. There is a lot of information, but need to do some searching (not too user friendly). world war ii lcts
    Nice model- I did one for my brother. I don't have anything for a size reference, but yours appears to be larger.
     
  6. RichTO90

    RichTO90 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2015
    Messages:
    2,562
    Likes Received:
    1,036
    Your best bet would be the Action Report of LCT(5)-207, which was written 25 June. Unfortunately it is not the Fold3 collection, so you would have to go to NARA for a copy.
     
  7. Michael Akkerman

    Michael Akkerman New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2020
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    1
    How do I do that?
     
  8. Michael Akkerman

    Michael Akkerman New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2020
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    1
    That is interesting, thanks for the info. Unfortunately the sailor is dead and did not give much info on the whole thing to his son. The guy told me his dad called the gun "the fifty" but it is possible he was actually firing a 20mm Oerlikon gun and for whatever reason thought it was a 50 cal. I am also curious if it were a M2 Browning instead of a Oerlikon gun, would it have been the standard variant or Naval variant with the water jacket?
     
  9. Buten42

    Buten42 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2009
    Messages:
    1,288
    Likes Received:
    210
    Location:
    Washington State
    Michael, I believe Lou's post was what you need to go with "* Armament varied depending on theater of operation".
    They may have changed out the 20's for .50's because of availability of ammunition. I have never fired either but the 20mm is definitely a larger gun--I'm sure they would know the difference.
     

Share This Page